Knitting machine and in the production of fabric thereon



Jan. 3, 1939.

KNITTING MACHINE AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF FABRIC TI'IEREON Original Filed June 22, 1936 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 T. H. JONES ET .51. 2,14 ,754

Jan. 3, 1939. JONES ET AL 2,142,754

KNITTING MACHINE AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF FABRIC THEREON Original Filed June 22, 1936 -8 Sheets- Sheet 2 lI/LJ lIJ fiI Jan. 3, 1939. T. H. JONES ET AL 2,142,754

KNITTING MACHINE AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF FABRIC THEREON Original Filed June 22, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheen- 3 ATTOrQ/VEX? Jam 3, 1939.

KNITTING MACHINE AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF FABRIC THEREON Original Filed June 22, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 lJA T. H. JONES ET.AL I I 4 Jan. 3, 1939. T. H. JONES ET AL 2,142,754 KNITTING MACHINE AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF FABRIC THEREON Original Fi led June 22, 1956 8 Shee'kzs-Sheet 5 5g 724 /29 /23' a F7625.

Jan. 3, 1939. T. H; JONES ET AL 2,142,754

' KNITTING MACHINE AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF FABRIC THEREON Original Filed June 22, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 I 25 ,0 "In, "H! I "II' "ml 0' I Jan. 3, 1939. T. H. JON ES ET AL 2,142,754

' KNITTING MACHINE AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF FABRIC THEREON Original Filed June 22, 1936 8 Sheets- Sheet 7 'Jan. 3,1939. 'r. HfJONES ET AL 2,142,754

KN ITT ING MACHINE AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF FABRIC TIIEREON Origirial Fi led June 22, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Jan. 3, 1939 PATENT oFncE I KNITTING MACHINE AND IN THE PRODUC- TION OF FABRIC THEREON Thomas Hem'y Kirkland Jones, Woodthorpe, and Robert Mills, Sherwood, England, assignors to Hosiery Developments Limited, Nottingham,

England Application June 22, 1936, Serial No.

Renewed September 3, 1937. In Great Britain June 25, 1935 24 Claims.

This invention comprises improvements in or relating to knitting machines and in the production of fabric thereon. More particularly the invention refers to straight bar knitting machines,

and an important, object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified mode of and means for knitting on this class of machine fabric embodying locked or tied stitches which give to the fabric non-ladder'or ladder-resisting properties. Preferably the-type of fabric it is intended to produce is that wherein stitch loops are locked or tied by loops other than stitch loops, a l

particular type of such fabric being that where'- in each locked stitch is composed of a loop of locking thread passing through and also around the stitch loop to be locked.

One convenient method of makinga locked or tied stitch is by the employment of a. spring or bearded needle having. the tail end of its beard 20 turned back towards the shank to form a comparativelysmall subsidiary hook; and the present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with a straight bar knitting machine embodying spring or bearded needles as. above, thread feeding means, means for operating said needles to receive thread and produce therefrom ordinary stitch loops and means functioning subsequently to operate the needles to receive stitchlocking thread, form loops therefrom and pass 30 said loops through and-around the said stitch loops tolock or tie same.

In making a locked stitch on a needle of the kind above-described, a previously formed stitch loop to be locked is first cleared on the needle carry the locking thread to the top or bend of the beard and also to carry the old loop into the beard above the subsidiary hook at the tail of the beard. On subsequent projectionof the needle the old loop is caught by the subsidiary hook and continued projection pulls the old loop down in said subsidiary hook and clears the locking thread loop below the beard, after which, by retraction of the needle, the locking loop is drawn through the old loop and cast off around said old loop which is still retained on the needle.

During the making of a locked stitch as above it is essential that the locking thread loop and 30 the stitch loop to be locked thereby are so controlled as to ensure that the locking loop is maintained clear of the stitch loop at the time.

the latter iszengaged by the subsidiary hook of the beard, and also to ensure that when the locktying thread loop is drawn through the old loop shank, after which stitch-locking thread is fed into the beard, and the needle is retracted to and passed on to the exterior of thebeard prior to knocking over, the already formed fabric is definitely held down so as not to foul the stitchlocking loop and'so as to hold the old loop in the requisite position for permitting the passage therethrough of the locking loop. In its broadest aspect the present invention resides in a knitting machine for producing fabric in which a loop of a locking thread is passed through and also around a previously formed stitch loop, the combination with loop forming knitting needles, thread-feeding means therefor and means to operate said needles to receive thread from the said feeder and produce therefrom ordinary stitch loops, of other means functioning subsequently to the production of the ordinary stitch-loops and operating to receive a locking thread andform loops therefrom and pass said loops through and around said stitch loops to lockthem, and means for restricting movement of the stitch loops on' the knitting needles in eitherdirection lengthwise of said needles so that locking loops can be passed through said stitch loops.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing discussion of the production of the particular variety of ladder-resistant fabric with which this invention is concerned, the fabric is, as beforestated, desirably produced by the employment of a needle having the end of its hook turned back to form a subsidiary hook, which needle is moved longitudinally to engage a previously formed stitch loop in said subsidiary hook and lift it over a locking loop; the invention the production of the fabric on such a -needle is characterized by the'step of holding the fabric down during operation, desirably at the plain side of the needle.

The invention also includes an improved construction of sinker functioning to maintain positive control of a stitch-locking loop and the disposition of same on the needle from the time of forming said loop to the time that it is passed over on to the exterior of the heard for casting ofi. Additionally the improved sinker is so constructed as to ensure that no undue strain is exerted on the stitch loop to'. belocked. or upon and'according to a feature of the locking thread loop during the formation of a locked stitch. To this end the improved sinker is provided with an additional thread accommodating throat at the forward end of the sinker for receiving thedocking thread loop and C011? trolling the disposition of same on the needle during stitch formation, and said additional forward throat advantageously has its closed endlevel or approximately level with the underface or edge of that part of the sinker immediately at the rear of said throat, this being preferably accomplished by cutting away or recessing the sinker on its underside immediately at the rear of the forward throat. 1

The specially constructed sinkers with additional forward throats advantageously constitute .dividing sinkers alternating with jack sinkers along the machine, which jack sinkers are operated in the well known manner to sink thread between alternate pairs of needles after thread laying, while the dividing sinkers are subsequently projected between the remaining alternate pairs of needles to divide the thread loops sunk by the jack sinkers, and during the production of locked stitches the dividing sinkers are operated after the sinking and dividing of locking thread loops to receive said locking thread loops in their forward throats and maintain control of said locking thread loops throughout the operation of producing locked stitches, or the major part of said operation.

The invention also includes differently designed cams for controlling the stitch-producing mechanism for making either plain or ordinary stitches and locked or tied stitches at will together with means for automatically transferring the operation from ordinary or plain stitch production to the locked stitch production at predetermined intervals, e. g., on alternate stitch courses. Additionally means are provided for effecting independent adjustment of the size or quality of the stitch loops and the stitchlocking loops at will, thereby enabling a comparatively tight stitch loop with a comparatively slack locking loop to be produced or vice versa, the adjustment being automatically controlled.

For the purpose of more fully describing the nature of this invention reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figs. 1 to 8 illustrate eight successive steps in the production of a locked or 'tied knitted stitch on a straight bar knitting machine.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the relative positions of the needles and sinkers at that phase in the production of fabric illustrated in Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a front elevational view of a single head straight bar machine embodying means in accordance with this invention for producing fabric with locked or tied stitches.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional end elevation through part of the machine shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged front elevation of part of the mechanism on the machine shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail in front elevation.

Fig. 14 is an end elevation of a part of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a sectional end elevation of the holding down bar and part of the controlling mechanism therefor constituting a continuation of Fig. .11 but drawn to a larger scale.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the holding down bar and controlling mechanism therefor.

Fig. 17 is a detailed view showing the camfor operating the holding down bar.

Fig. 18 shows the cams for effecting vertical movement of the needles.

- Fig. 19 shows the needle presser cams and quality cam.

Fig. 20 shows the atch bar cams.

Fig. 21 is an enlarged end elevational view of mechanism shown at the right hand side of Fig. 10 for making the fabric selvedge.

Fig. 22 is an enlarged plan of the upper part of Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 "is a detail showing a yarn carrier driver and stop device therefor looking from the front of the machine.

Fig. 24 is a face view of the racking cams and blufi cams functioning at the fabric selvedges.

Fig. 25 shows the rack cams and bluff cam operating when selvedging the parallel fabric.

Fig. 26 shows the rack cam and bluff cam operating when fashioning.

Fig. 27 shows a jack sinker;

Fig. 28 shows a divider sinker, and

Fig. 29 shows a divider sinker employed at theselvedge. 1

In a convenient method of' carrying out the invention on a straight bar knitting machine, needles I as before-mentioned are employed having beards 2 each terminating in a small inturned subsidiary hook 3. Co-operating with and working between alternate pairs of adjacent needles are jack sinkers 4 each having an angular loop-sinking throat 5 functioning to receive and control fed thread, while between the remaining alternate pairs of needles divider sinkers 6 operate, the jack sinkers 4 being first projected to sink thread loops between alternate pairs of needles and the dividers 5 being subsequently projected simultaneously with the outward movement of the needles to divide the thread loops in the angular throats I in the known manner. Each divider 6 is preferably formed with a downwardly inclined portion 8 at that part immediately above the throat I, and extending forwardly below said throat I is a portion 9 having a downwardly inclined upper edge, said portion 9 being provided with a comparatively narrow and preferably parallel sided throat l0 substantially near to the bottom edge of the sinker, and a substantially narrow and preferably parallel edged neb ll projecting forwardly beyond and below said throat i0, said neb advantageously having horizontal upper and lower edges or faces.

The production of a locked or tied stitch by the co-operation of the aforesaid needles I and sinkers 4 and 6 will now be described, and for the sake of clearness the operation of a single needle will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8. First let it be assumed that a stitch loop a which it is required to lock is already carried on the needle, the needle is raised to clear said old loop down its shank, the sinkers are retracted to a position for permitting looking thread to be fed across the needle below the beard, the jack sinkers 4 are projected while the divider sinkers 6 are held back, (Fig. 1), after which, as the needle begins to descend and also to move outwards, the divider sinkers 6 are projected so as to sink a loop I) of locking thread on the shank in the throats 5 and 1. Continued retraction of the needle brings the sunk loop 11 of locking thread into the top or bight 2a of the needle beard 2 and also brings the old loop a up into the beard. During this motion the sinkers 4, 6 are simultaneously partially retracted, thereby causing the loop of lookmovement of the needles holds the fabricdown and prevents the old loop a from creeping up against the locking thread loop b, consequently causing said old loop a to enter the subsidiary hook 3 while maintaining the locking thread loop clear of same. Pressure is now released from the beard and, as the aforesaid holding down bar l2 commences to move back, the needle is raised further to clear the loop of locking thread 1; below the beard 2, the old loop a. being still held down in the subsidiary hook (Fig. 6). Pres- ,sure is now again applied to the needle beard and the needle is moved down so as to cause the locking loop b to be drawn through the old loop a and pass on to the exterior of the beard, (Fig. 7), the old loop meanwhile moving out of the subsidiary hook 3. During further retraction of the needle the sinkers are withdrawn and the locking loop I), which as aforesaid has been drawn through the old loop a, is thereby released from the sinker 6 and cast oil over said old loop which is retained on the needle. If desired, the customary knocking-over bits I! may, just prior to the projection of the holding down bar l2, be slightly lowered to assist. in

.the movement of said bar up to the needles,

said knocking over bits being subsequently raised at the time of knocking over and, if desired, moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 8 to assist said knocking over.

During that phase in the before-described stitch-forming operation when the locking thread loop b is cleared .below the needle beard and passed through the old loop on to the exterior of said beard, (Figs. 6 and 7), the stitch thread appertaining to the old loop a, i. e., the sinker bars on each side of the stitch loop extend beneath the sinkers 4; 6, within an arcuate cutout or recess Go on the underside of the divider sinker 6 immediately at the rear of the neb H, and if desired, but'not necessarily, in an undercut recess 40. at'the end of the jack sinker 4, the top of said recess or recesses being level or substantially level with the closed end of the forward sinker throat Ill accommodating the locking-thread; and in this manner the needle can be raised with the old loop a in the subsidiary hook 3 thereof without exerting undue 1 strain on said old loop or without unduly ex- 7 the cams for eifecting the movements when tending said loop.

In the production of an ordinary or normal" knitted stitch the needle operation is similar to that when employing an ordinary bearded. needle,-that is to say a previously formed loop v .is cleared below the beard while the needle israised, new stitch threadisfed into-the heard, the needle is lowered, the beard pressed and the old loop knocked over.

It will, of course, be appreciated that as the movements which require to be imparted tothe needles and sinkers when making a locked stitch are different from. those to be imparted when making an ordinary stitch, the cams for effector chain 30 operating on horizontal axes.

endless chain 30 is traversed to and fro through shaped looking stitch cams are provided for the needle and sinker operation, the necessary movements being transmitted from said cams through suitable pivoted lever devices carrying trucks or rollers which are maintained in engagement with the cams by springs. The arrangement is such that while locking stitches are being produced the needle and, sinker cams appertaining to plain stitches are inoperative, and vice versa. Additionally, fashioning or transfer cams are provided adapted to be brought into operation when the stitch-forming cams are inoperative.

By way of example, the invention is illustrated as applied to a straight bar machine of the Cottons patent type having a single head, such a machine being known in the trade as a Wildman machine. The drive is transmitted'from main drive shaft l5 through intermeshing gears I 6 to the main cam shaft I! on which are fixed the several cams for effecting the requisite stitchforming operations. On the cam shaft I7 is also fixed a gear wheel l8 meshing with a larger gear l9 carried by and rotating in unison with a draw bar cam 20 with which coacts a cam truck or roller 2| carried by a quadrant lever -22 pivoted at 23 and meshing at its upper end with a gear 24, said draw bar cam operating rotatably to reciprocate the draw bar in the manner customary in this type of machine to impart reciprocating movement to a-number of endless thread carrier bands or like flexible members 25 for effecting the requisite traverse of the thread carriers along a row of needles car- .ried bythe needle bar 26. The thread carrier bands 25 operate on vertical axes and are close.-

ly disposed one behind the. other at the front of the machine where the thread carriers are fixed to said bands, the rear portions of the bands 25 being spaced apart and having fixed .thereon saddle members 21 by means of which the endless car'rier members 25 are selectively traversed by the selective engagement therewith of catch elements 28 carried by a box or bracket 29 suitably fixed to an endless travelling band The suitable gear from the aforesaid draw bar quadrant 22 in the manner customary in this type of. machine, and the selective displacement of the catch elements 28 for selecting the carrier band 25 to be traversed is also effected by the longitudinal movement of selector rods 3|.

Simultaneously with the movement of the selected thread carrier band 25, reciprocating movement is also impartedto the usual slur cock operating to impart the requisite projection to the sinkers, the slur cock movement being effected by rotation of the spiral 32, the upstanding thread on which coacts with the usual slur cock carrier.

As aforestated, the production of locked or tied knitted stitches necessitates the employment of cams for producing ordinary or plain stitch loops I and additional cams for producing stitch-locking loops, i. e., for looking or tying the plain loops,

nary stitch loops alternating wi h :courses of stitch-locking loops. To this end the cams on the main cam shaft l1 functioning in'the known I and the arrangement is advantageously such that v themachine operates to produce courses of ordimanner to operate and control the movement of the stitch-forming elements in the'production of normal knitted stitches must have" associated therewith other cams adapted to be brought into operation for producing the locked" or tied stitches, together with means for causing said cams selectively to function at the required times. The two closely disposed cams 33, 34 appertain to the operation of the catch bar 35 for effecting the requisite in and out motion of the sinkers, the cam 33 operating when making ordinary or plain stitches and the cam 34 when making locked stitches. cam discs for imparting the requisite up and down motion to the catch bar 35 and also cams for operating during fashioning o'r stitch transference, that is to say when the stitch cams are inoperative. Two further cams are also advantageously provided closely alongside the aforesaid cams functioning in the normal manner for imparting motion to the knocking-over bits l4 both during stitch production and while fashioning. Motion is transmitted from the aforesaid catch bar earns 33, 34 through the intermediary of a cam truck 36 (Figs. 10 and 11) carried by a spring influenced lever 31 which extends to and is fixed to a rotatable catch bar shaft 38 extending along the machine, said shaft having also fixed thereto a number of upwardly extending links 39 pivoted at their upper ends to horizontal links or rods 40 which are in turn connected with the catch bar 35. By this means as the truck 36 rises and falls, the catch bar 38 is rocked and horizontal movement is imparted to the links or rods 40 to impart. movement to the catch bar. The axle of the truck 36 is embraced by the forked end of a cranked arm 4| extending down at the rear of the machine and rotatably mounted on its lower end upon a shaft 43 which constitutes one of a pair of horizontal cam selector shafts 42, 43 located respectively at the front and rear of the machine.

Two further closely disposed cams 44, 45 fixed to the cam shaft l1 function to impart the requisite vertical motions to the needles carried by the needle bar 26, the cam 44 functioning. when making plain stitches and'the cam 45 when making locked stitches. Adapted selectively to coact with these cams 44, 45 is a cam truck 46, the radial displacement of which is converted into vertical motion at the needles through the medium of a truck-carrying arm 41 fixed to a rockshaft 48, one or more further arms 49 also fixed to said rock shaft 48 and rotatable upon a cross spindle 50 to which spindle are suitably clamped the customary brackets 5| carrying the needle bar 26. Consequently it will be seen that an up-and-down motion is imparted to the cross spindle 56 carrying the needle bar brackets 5|. The stub axle carrying the truck 46 has fixed thereto a pair of spaced collars 52 (Fig. 12) between which and around said axle is assembled the forked extremity of a truck displacing arm 53 (Fig. 11) rotatably mounted at its lower end upon the aforesaid rear cam selector shaft 43.

Closely alongside the earns 44, 45 may be mounted cams for imparting motion to the before-mentioned thread carrier selector rods 3|. The in and out motions of the needles, i. e. needle pressing motions, are transmitted from two further closely disposed cams 54, 55, the cam 54 functioning when making ordinary stitches and the cam 55 when making locked stitches; and as is the customary practice the needle pressing motions are effected simultaneously with the vertical motions of the needles. This is accomplished by mounting on the aforesaid rock shaft 48 a downwardly depending arm 56 carrying at its lower end on I. laterally extending stub axle a cam truck I! a second downwardly depending Alongside these cams are the usual arm 58 being fixed to the aforesaid cross shaft 50 to which the needle bar brackets are secured, and the lower end of said arm 58 having pivoted thereat a hand lever 59 having an adjustable hook connection to a pin on the truck-carrying arm 56 (Fig. 11), thereby providing a parallelogrammic lever device. Embracing the stub axle of the cam truck 51 is the upper forked extremity of a truck-shifting arm 60 mounted at its lower end upon the front cam selector shaft 42.

Fixed on the cam shaft alongside the needle presser earns 54, tion during fashioning, i. e., when said presser cams are inoperative; whilst at the same position on the cam shaft may also be fixed the usual cams for effecting the vertical motion of the transfer points during fashioning.

Further along the cam shaft is also fixed the customary quality cam 6| with which coacts a truck 62 carried at the upper end of a truck arm 63 mounted at its lower end upon a cross shaft 64, generally known as the regulating shaft. This shaft 64 which is capable of rotation has fixed thereon a sleeve 65 with upstanding plate 66 on which plate is pivoted a quadrant arm 61 extending over said plate 66 and coacting at its upper part with screwed studs 68 adjustably mounted within a part 69 constituting an extension of the aforesaid truck arm 56 appertaining to the needle presser earns 54, 55. The lower toothed end of the quadrant arm 61 meshes with a rack 10 slidable within a slot in the aforesaid sleeve 65 on the shaft 64 so that by movement of said rack the upper end of the quadrant arm 61 is brought into register with selected of the screwed studs 68 which project from the part 69 to different degrees. During normal stitch production, i. e., when knitting ordinary or plain stitches, the quality of the stitch loops or the length of said loops drawn by the relative movement between the needles and sinkers is effected from the pattern drum 1| (Figs. 10 and 12) through the intermediary of a lifter 12, pivoted bell crank 13 and horizontal bar 14 which is adjustably screwed at 15 to a slideable sleeve 16 mounted on'the regulating shaft 64 and carrying the aforesaid rack bar 10. In order, however, to determine the quality of the stitch-locking loops during the production of locked or tied stitches, the quadrant arm 61 has imparted thereto an extended pivotal motion to bring same into register with additional adjustable studs 11 (Fig. 12) carried by a lateral extension of the member 69 on which said studs are mounted, and this additional movement of the quadrant arm 61 is effected by axial displacement of the front selector shaft 42 which has fixed thereon a forked bracket 18 carrying an adjustable stop 19 adapted, on displacement of the shaft 42, to pivot a short centrally pivoted arm 86 and by so doing longitudinally move the bar 14 fixed to the sliding sleeve 16 and move the rack bar 16 for pivoting the quadrant arm 61 to the required extent. The before-mentioned holding down bar I2 is also operated and controlled from cams on the cam shaft l1. These cams are shown at 8| and 82, 8| being the cam operating when producing plain stitches and 82 when producing locked stitches. An additional cam disc is also provided alongside, functioning during fashioning. Coacting withthe cams 8|, 82 is a truck 83 carried 'on a stub axle 84 at the lower end of an upwardly extending lever 85, which latter is at its upper end fixed to a rock shaft 86 carried at its ends in bearings 81 on the machine frame (Fig. 10). On this shaft 86 55 is a cam disc adapted to funcare fixed upstanding arms 88 carrying sleeves 89 (Fig. 15) within each of which is slidably assembled a spring influenced catch pin 90 having a bevelled nose 9|. Normally the nose 9I of each pin 90 projects above the sleeve 89 to an extent sufficient to coact with the vertical end.

face of a bevelled stop 92 provided on the underside of a horizontal slidably mounted bar 93, the two bars 93 having suitably connected thereto the holding down bar I2. A spring, 94 connected at one end to an element on the sliding bar 93 and at the other end to an element on the stationary guide 95 serves normally to hold the stops 92 in engagement with the projecting catch pins 9|, and during the production of locked or tied stitches rocking motion is imparted to the shaft 86 pivotally to displace the arms 88 carrying the catch pinsV9I, and in so doing the holding down bar I2 has imparted thereto the requisite motions described earlier in the specification.

When it is desired to withdraw the holding down bar I2 out of operation, the catch pins 9I are lowered against their springs out of engagement with the stops 92 by the pivotal movement of-a small hand lever 95 which is pivotally connected to the lower end of the catch pin 9I and when swung downwardly withdraws said pin 9| and holds same out of operation, see Fig. 15.

The stub axle 84 of the cam truck 83 coacting with the holding down bar cams 8|, 821s embraced between fixed collars by the forked end of a truck shifting arm 91 loosely carried on the regulating shaft 64, that part of the arm 91 encircling the shaft 64 being in turn embraced by the aforesaid forked bracket I8 fixed to the cam selector shaft 42.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that the truck shifting arms appertaining to the holding down bar I2 and, needle presser cams 54, 55 are capable of being 1 displaced laterally for shifting the trucks from the cams appertaining to the plain or normal stitches to those appertaining to the locked stitches and vice versa by suitable operation of the front cam selector shaft 42, while the trucks appertaining to the catch bar cams 33, 34 and needle cams 44, 45 are adapted to be similarly displaced by operation of the rear cam selector shaft 43, and one method of automatically effecting this displacement of the several cam trucks will now be described.

As before-stated the machine is advantageously arranged to produce ordinary stitches on alternate courses and locked or tied stitches on the remaining alternate courses; in other words, when thread has been laid along the needle row in onedirection a course of ordinary stitch loops is produced from said thread, and when the thread is returned along the needle row in an opposite direction the stitch loops produced on the last preceding course are locked or tied. To do this the two selector shafts 42, 43 are simultaneously moved first in one direction and then in the opposite direction to bring the .plain stitch cams andthe locking "stitch cams into operation on alternate courses. While this type of fabric is being produced, a pivoted catch element 98' on the machine frame is maintained in the raised position indicated .in full lines in Fig. 13, this being effected by causing a pivoted, spring influenced pattern drum follower 99 linked to the free end of said catch to traverse a circumferential row of closely disposed bits H on the pattern drum I I. With the catch 98 so raised, a to and fro motion is imparted to the selector shaft 42 by means -by an angle bar or similar of suitable pivoted links I00 terminating at one end in a collar IOI provided on said selector shaft 42 and at the other end in a roller or truck I02 coacting with a face cam I03 rotating in unison with the draw bar cam 20. The collar IOI coacts with a sleeve I04 encircling the shaft 42 between said collar IN and a. second collar I05, and the face cam I03 is so designed that for approximately one half of the cam theshaft 42 is axially displaced against the influence of the spring I 06, while for the remaining half of the revolution said spring returns the shaft 42 to'its normal position. The movement imparted to the front selector shaft 42 is simultaneously conveyed to the rear selector shaft 43. In one method of accomplishing this the aforesaid sleeve I04 has secured to a depending portion thereona short rod I01 end beyond the machine frame to a boss I08 rotatably mounted at the one end of one link I09 of a pair of toggle links I 09, 0' extending alongside of the machine, the end of the second toggle link rear selector shaft 43. The two links I09, IIO are connected together at III by pin and slot connection and each link is itself pivoted midrevolution of said connected at its free H0 being similarly connected to the way between its extremities on pivots I I 2 carried fixed member II3. When the machine operates to fashion the fabric being produced thereon, i. e., when stitch transference is being effected by the customary transfer points, the stitch producing cams are rendered inoperative and the several cam trucks are brought into engagementwith the usual transfer cams for effecting the requisite relative motion of the stitch-forming elements and transfer points. Also during stitch transference the draw bar mechanism for traversing the thread carriers and slur cocks is thrown out of operation, and this is effected by shogging the cam shaft I1 so as to declutch the draw bar mechanism and at the same to move over on to the transfer well known and, therefore, does not require to be described in detail. In view of the fact that the stitch transference the production of a course of ordinary stitches, that is to say at the time when the needles carry normal stitch loops prior to the locking of said loops, it will be understood-that the clutching of the cam shaft to the draw bar operating mechanism must be effected when the selector shafts 42, 43 have been moved to a position to bring the several cam trucks in engagement with the locking stitch cams, as the next course of stitches to be formed are locking stitches. Consequently the re-clutchingof the cam shaft. to the draw bar mechanism is so timed that the cam trucks are brought into engagement with the locking stitch cams. The requisite shogging motion of the cam shaft is effected by any known -or suitable means operated from a' pattern chain I I4, and the racking of this pattern chain and also thepattern drum II is also advantageously accomplished from the cam shaft through suitable clawker mechanism.

If at any time ordinary fabric is to be produced, that is. to say fabric other vthanlocked stitch fabric, the aforesaid catch member 98 associgage the collar I05 or other member on said shaft and maintain the truck I02 out of engage ment withthe draw cam I03, thereby rendering the several locked stitch cams on-the cam shaft occurs at the termination of I timecause the cam trucks I or fashioning. cams. The mechanism for accomplishing this is' ated with the selector shaft 42 is lowered to en- I1 inoperable for any predetermined length of time. The lowering of the catch 98 is effected by causing the pivoted spring influenced pattern drum follower 99 (Figs. 13 and 14) linked to the end of the catch to move down out of engagement with the series of raised bits H5 on said drum. For example, this plain (unlocked) fabric may be produced when forming the welt of a stocking blank.

It is to be understood that all of the several cam trucks are pulled by suitable springs towards their respective cams, and each or any of the truck carrying arms may have associated therewith means for relieving the cams from the wedge or pressure of the trucks during shogging. One such means is illustrated by way of example in Fig. 11 as applied to the truck associated with the cams eifecting vertical movement of the needles, said means comprising a laterally projecting arm H6 carrying a pin H'I coacting with a vertical slot I I8 in a suitable bracket or member H9, the pin II'I reaching the lower end of the slot H8 on an adjusting screw and supporting the cam truck slightly clear of the cams during shogging.

In Figs. 1'! to 20 inclusive the several cams employed in the production of locked stitch fabric are more clearly shown. In Fig. 1'? the holding down bar cam 82 functioning when producing locked stitches is shown superimposed over the cam 8| which functions when producing plain stitches, the latter being a circular disc. The cam truck 83 is shown bearing on the looking stitch cam at a position coinciding substantially with the position of the stitch-forming elements in Fig. 1, and between this position, indicated at A, and the position D which coincides with Fig. 4 the cam 82'functions first to move the holding down bar I2 quickly towards the needles, then to retard this movement and finally to move the bar quickly substantially close up to the needles. Continued rotation of cam 82 quickly withdraws the bar I2 a small distance and then fully withdraws said bar to the knocking over position indicated at H which corresponds with Fig. 8.

In Fig. 18 is shown the locking stitch cam 45 for effecting vertical movement of the needles superimposed over the plain stitch cam 44, and the contour of the cam 45 from the position A to the position H is such as to effect the vertical movements imparted to the needles during the production of a locked stitch, the eight successive positions A to H at the periphery of the cam traversed by the truck 46 corresponding with the eight successive positions of the needle illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8. Advantageously also the locked stitch cam 45 is provided at itsperiphery with a radially adjustable nose or bit I28 for finely adjusting the projection of the needles at the position in Fig. 6 in accordance with the quality of the plain stitch loops on the needles.

In Fig. 19 is shownthe locking stitch cam for the in and out or pressing movement of the needles superimposed over the plain stitch cam 54 and also showing the-quality cam 6| at the rear thereof. In this figure again the eight successive positions at the periphery of the cam 55 indicated from A positions shown in Figs. 1 to 8, that is to say the rotation of the cam 55 from A to H efiects the pressing movements of the needles from the feed of the locked stitch thread to the knocking over of the stitch locking loop to produce a locked stitch, the quality cam 6| simultaneously end of the machine to H correspond with the co-operating with the cam 55 to produce looking stitches of the requisite size or quality.

In Fig. 20 is shown the locked stitch cam 34 over the plain stitch cam 35 for governing the in and out motion imparted to the catch bar controlling the sinkers, it being understood that said cam functions in unison with the customary cam appertaining to the up and down motion of the catch bar. Here again the peripheral contour of the cam 34 from the position A to the position H controls the catch bar during the production of locked stitches throughout the steps illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, the eight positions-A to H coinciding with the eight positions in said Figs. 1 to 8. The jack sinkers 4 are, of course, projected between the needles by the usual slur cock device, the cam 34 operating to project the divider sinkers 6 and withdraw both the jacks and dividers. On this catch bar cam 34 is also provided a radially adjustable nose or bit I2I which functions to ensure that the locking, loop is drawn tightly up on to the needle shank at the positions illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 irrespective of the quality of said locking loop. The several cams associated with the beforedescribed locking stitch cams are designed to function in the customary manner for producing plain or unlocked stitches and, therefore, need no description.

In the production of a selvedged knitted blank or article wherein courses of ordinary stitch loops are produced alternating with coursesof locking loops, although there is no difliculty in producing an effective selvedge at that edge of the fabric where the thread carrier is reversed to produce a course of locking stitches, the production of a satisfactory selvedge at the opposite edge is not so simple. The main reason forthis .is that although at the one edge of the fabric the thread is without difficulty controlled by the sinkers to produce a course of plain stitches prior to the traverse of the carrier being reversed, at the opposite edge of the fabric, i. e. at the termination of the locking thread draw, the angle at which the thread extends up to the thread guide or carrier coupled with the peculiar motions hereinbefore described for producing locked stitches on the specially formed needles render it impossible, without special provision, to produce a stitch on the end needle, i. e. the selvedge needle. The present invention, therefore, includes means whereby, subsequent to the termination of the draw or traverse of the locking thread, the thread carrier is shogged a further short distance to the extent of one or more needles so as to permit of said thread being brought under control and enable an efiective selvedge to be produced. In one method of accomplishing this on the class of machine under consideration, a racking device is provided at the functioning to effect this short additional motion of the thread carrier, said racking device also having associated therewith means for selvedging during the production of fashioned fabric, i. e., during stitch transference.

As aforesaid the saddle members 21 have associated therewith the thread carriers, the traverse being effected by the engagement of a catch element 28 with a saddle 2.1, and the extent of traverse is determined by a stop I22 carried by a stop bracket I23 threaded upon a right and left hand screw threaded spindle I24; two of said brackets I23 with stops I22 being provided, one at each end of the machine, one on the right hand threaded portion of the spindle I24 and the other on the left hand threaded portion thereof.

Thus by rotation of spindle I24 in the known manner stops I22 are adjusted. n the stop bracket I23 is pivoted a catch arm I25 (Fig. 23) advantageously normally pulled down by spring I26, a depending trip .arm I21, being pivotally connected to said catch and held by spring I28 against an adjustable stop I29 on said catch. The depending tripping arm I21 is pivotally displaceable from the vertical position away from the catch I25 but is prevented from moving beyond the vertical in the opposite direction without lifting the catch. When the carrier reaches the normal end of its traverse, an upstanding lug I30 0n the carrier saddle 21 passes beneath the bevelled end of the catch I25 so as to become located between said catch and the stop I22, and a further rotary movement imparted to the screwed spindle I24 then causes the saddle with carrier to be traversed a further short distance to carry the thread over one or more additional needles beyond the normal selvedge needle. On the reverse or return motion of the catch bracket 29 to effect the return motion of the carrier, said bracket coacts with the depending trip arm I2'I to lift the catch I25 clear of the upstanding lug I30 on the saddle,

after which the stop bracket I23 is adjusted back again for the next course.

The'extra rotary movement of the oppositely screwed stop spindle I24 for imparting to the link I46 pivotally connected to the one arm of a' carrier a short additional traversing motion at the termination of the locking thread draw is advantageously effected from suitable cams on the cam shaft I! as hereinafter described.

One end of the aforesaid oppositely screwed stop spindle I24 has suitably geared thereto. a stub shaft I3I on which are fixed two oppositely toothed rack wheels I32, I33, and over said wheels are pivoted two oppositely extending clawker arms I34, I35 pulled down by springs I36 and connected or constructed for simultaneous pivotal displacement, the clawker I34, be-

ing adapted to 'coact with the one rack wheel I32, and the clawker I35 with the rack wheel I 33. The operation of the clawkers to effect rotation of either of the rack wheels I32 or I33,

and rotate the stop spindle I24 in one direction or the other is advantageously effected by imparting rocking motion to a bell crank lever I31 connected by an adjustable link I33 to one arm of a bell crank lever I39 pivoted on a fixed spini die I40, the opposite arm of said bell crank lever carrying a truck I bearing on the peripheries of two closely disposed racking cams I42, I43 on the cam shaft II. Operating between the two rack wheels I32, I33 is a bluff wheel I44 (Fig. 22) for blufiing the clawkers I34 and I35 clear of said rack wheels, said bluff wheel being rotatable independently of said rack wheels and having at two positions in its periphery V-shaped' notches I45 (Fig. 21) which when either of same is brought into'register with a elawker, permits said clawker to engage with a rack wheel and impart rotation thereto. The bluff wheel I44 is advantageously rotated through an adjustable bell crank lever I4'Imounted onthe aforesaid shaft I40, the other arm of said bell crank lever carrying a cam truck I48 bearing on-two closely disposed blufiing cams I49 and I50 on the cam shaft I I.

In Fig. 24 is shown a face view of the several camson the cam shaft I1 for controlling the producing parallel (unfashioned) fabric, and

Fig. 26 showing the racking and blufling cams functioning when producing fashioned fabric.-

During the production of parallel sided fabric, at the termination of the draw or feed of the locking thread, a rise I'49a on the bluff cam I49 effects rotation of the blufi wheel 144 to bring one of the V-shaped recesses I45 into such a position that at the rise I42a on the rack cam I42 one of the clawkers I34, I35 is brought into engagement with one of the rack wheels I32, I33 and effects partial rotation thereof, thereby imparting further rotation to the screw-threaded stop spindle I24 and giving a short further shogging motion to the thread carrier to the extent of one or more needles. At the commencement of the return motion of the thread carrier a fall I49b on the bluff cam I49 again partially rotates the bluff wheel I44 in an opposite direction' to bring the other clawker into engagement wit the second rack wheel which has oppositely directed teeth, and a fall I 42b on the rack cam I42 then imparts rocking motion to said clawker to rotate the last named rack wheel-and thereby .impart opposite rotation to the stop spindle I24 to an extent sufficient to return the previously shogged thread carrier stop back over the one or more extra needles. Subsequently at the position I490 the clawkers are raised byrotation of the bluff wheel clear of. the two rack wheels and the thread draw takes place in the normal manner. The before-described operations con tinue at the end of each thread draw during the production of parallel sided fabric, it being understood, however, that although the addi tional motion is imparted to the stop spindle I24 at the end of each draw, the thread carrier needles at the end of alternate thread draws, i. e. at the termination of each locking thread draw.

When it is required toproduce fashioned fabric, that is to produce narrowed fabric by stitch transference, the cam shaft H has imparted thereto ashort shogging' motion as before mentioned, and in doing this the cam truck I is moved from one blufl cam I49 to the closely disposed bluff cam I50, while the other cam truck I is moved from the rack cam I42 to the closely. disposed rack is itself only traversed the extra one or more rack cam I43 again to rotate the stop spindle I24 in an opposite direction and return the stop bracket I23 to its normal position. Stitch transference or fashioning then takes place and the bluff wheel I44 is again operated by rise I50b to permit of a further outward racking of the stop carrier I23 by the rise I43b on the racking cam I43; andwhen the trucks again reach the position I5I shogging of the cam shaft II is again effected to bring the trucks MI and I48 into engagement with the cams I49 and I50. The shogging from may be effected at predetermined intervals.

In order to facilitate selvedging and obviate the possibility of thread breakage a plurality of specially shaped divider sinkers may be employed at each selvedge, said divider sinkers having an extra elongated throat I52 (Fig. 29) extending parallel with the under edge of the sinker and substantially near said edge for accommodating the thread loops.

We claim:

1. In a knitting machine for producing fabric in which a loop of a locking thread is passed through and also around a previously formed stitch loop, the combination with loop forming knitting needles, thread-feeding means therefor and means to operate said needles to receive thread from the said feeder and produce therefrom ordinary stitch loops, of other means functioning subsequently to the production of the ordinary stitch loops and operating to receive a locking thread and form loops therefrom and pass said loops through and around said stitch loops to lock them, and fabric-holding means functioning to restrain the stitch loop on the knitting needle from movement in both directions lengthwise of said needles so that locking loops can be passed through said stitch loops.

2. In a knitting machine according to claim 1, the employment of needles each having the end of its hook turned back upon itself to form a subsidiary hook, means operating the needle longitudinally to engage a ground loop in the subsidiary hook and lift it over a locking loop, and means for holding the fabric down during this operation.

3. In a knitting machine for producing fabric in which a loop of locking thread is passed through and also around a previously formed stitch loop, loop-forming knitting needles, elements movable withv the needles cooperating with other elements movable relative to the needles to pass one loop through or over another and means operating to engage the fabric adjacent to the needles and restrain it from movement longitudinally of the needles so as to hold the stitch loops in a position on the needles forpermitting the locking loops to be passed therethrough.

4. A knitting machine according to claim 3 and including a fabric holding-down bar at the plain side of the needles.

5. A straight bar knitting machine embodying spring or bearded needles, each or selected of which has the tail end of its beard turned back towards its shank to form a comparatively small subsidiary hook constituting a loop-manipulating, element, thread-feeding means, means operating said needles to receive thread and produce therefrom ordinary stitch loops and other means functioning subsequently to, the production of said ordinary stitch loops to operate the needles to clear the stitch loop below the needle beard, sink a loop of locking thread on the needle above said stitch loop, cause said stitch loop to become engaged by the subsidiary hook of the beard, pass the locking thread loop through said stitch loop while engaged by said subsidiary hook and cast off the locking loop over said stitch loop, and means operating to maintain the locking thread loop clear of the stitch loop while the latter is brought into engagement with the subsidiary hook of the beard and to hold the fabric down while the locking loop is passed through the stitch loop on to the exterior of the said beard prior to knocking over.

6. A method of producing knitted fabric upon a knitting machine by the employment of spring or bearded needles wherein a locking loop is passed through and also around a previously means for formed stitch loop, and wherein the stitch loop and locking loop are received in the needle beard, and said loops are separated and controlled in their movement lengthwise of the needle while both are within said beard to enable the locking loop to be passed through the stitch loop.

7. In a straight bar knitting machine embodying spring or bearded needles each having the tail end of its beard turned back to form a comparatively small subsidiary hook, thread feeding means, means operating said needles to receive thread and produce therefrom ordinary stitch loops and means operating to produce stitch locking loops and to lock or tie stitches therewith, said last-named means functioning to clear said stitch loops on to the needle shanks, feed stitch locking thread into the beards, retract said needles to carry the locking thread to the top of the beards and also to carry the stitch loops into the beards above the subsidiary hooks, to H cause the said stitch loops to be caught by the subsidiary hooks, to clear the locking thread loops below the beards while the old stitch loops are still held in said subsidiary hooks, to draw the locking loops through the old loops and finally to cast the locking loops off the needles around the old loops which are'still retained on the needles, and means operating during the production of a locked or tied stitch to ensure that the locking loop is maintained clear of the stitch loop to be locked while the latter is being engaged by the subsidiary hook of a needle beard, and to hold down already formed fabric on the needles so as to permit a stitch locking loop to be passed through a stitch loop on to the exterior of the needle beard prior to knocking over.

8. In a straight bar knitting machine, spring or bearded needles each having the tail end of its beard turned back to form a small subsidiary hook, means operating to produce on said needles ordinary knitted stitches, means operating to produce on the same needles locked or tied stitches, said last named means functioning to cause stitch locking thread to be received in the beard of each needle, sink a loop from said thread on the needles, anchor the stitch loop to be locked in the subsidiary hook of the beard, pass the locking thread loop through said anchored stitch loop and finally cast off said locking loop over and around the stitch loop which is still retained in the needle beard, a movable bar or strip co-operating with thread controlling sinkers, projecting said bar towards the needles between the stitch loops and locking loops thereon, means for causing said bar to hold down the already produced fabric while the locking loops are being passed through the stitch loops on to the exterior of the needle beards and means operating subsequently to withdraw said bar from the needles.

9. A straight bar knitting machine according to claim 8 wherein the requisite movement of the holding down bar towards the needles is effected and timed by one or more rotary cams through the intermediary of link and lever mechanism and wherein the movement of said bar away from the needles is effected by spring means.

10. A straight bar knitting machine employing bearded needles each having the tail of its beard turned back to form a small subsidiary hook, thread feeding means, means operating to produce on said needles ordinary stitches, means operating to produce on the same needle locked or tied knitted stitches by causing loops of stitch V 2,142,754 locking thread to be passed through and also ou ses,

around the stitch loops, jack 'sinkers operating between alternate needles to sink thread loops thereon, divider sinkers operating between the remaining alternate needles subsequently to di-' vide the sunk thread loops, said dividersinkers having two thread-accommodating throats located one below the other and the lower throat being located .at the forward part of a nose portion projecting in front of the upper throat, means operating during the production of a locked or tied stitch to cause stitch locking thread to be first received in the upper throat of a divider sinker and subsequently to pass into the lower forward throat thereof and to be retained in and controlled by said forward throat throughthe locking stitch forming between the stitch locking loops and the stitchloops to be locked at the time said stitch locking loops are brought into engagement with the forv wardly disposed lower throats of the divider sinkers, said bar beingmaintained in this position while the needles are projected and the needle beards pressed to receive the stitch loops in the subsidiary hooks thereof, and said bar also functioning to hold down the alreadyv produced fabric while the stitch locking loops are cleared below said needle beards prior to being passed through the old stitch loops and cast on the needles aroundsaid loops.

12. A straight bar knitting machine according to claim 10 wherein the additional forward throat of each divider sinker has its rear or closed end level or approximately level with the under face or edge of that part of the sinker immediately at the rear of said throat.

13. A straight bar knitting machine according to claim 10 wherein the under edge of each divider sinker immediately at the rear of the forward throat thereof is formed with an arcuate.

recess, said recess functioning to obviate undue strain on a stitch loop during the passage of a looking loop therethrough when forming a locked or tied stitch.

14. A straight bar knitting machine according to claim 7 embodying cams for controlling the stitch producing mechanism for making plain or ordinary stitches, differently designed cams for controlling the stitch producing mechanism for making locked or tied stitches and means for automatically selecting said cams for operation at predetermined intervals.

15. A straight bar knitting machine according to claim 7 embodyingcams for controlling the stitch producing mechanism for making plain or ordinary stitches, differently designed cams for controlling thestitch producing mechanism for making locked or tied stitches and means for automatically bringingthe ordinary stitch cams into operation on alternate courses and the locking stitch cams into operation at the remaining alternate courses.

16. A straight bar knitting machine accord-v ing to claim 7 embodying cams for controlling the stitch producing mechanism for making plain or ordinary stitches, differently designed cams for controlling the stitch producing mechanism for making locked or tied stitches and means for automatically selecting said cams for operation at predetermined intervals, e. g. on alternate said last named means comprising acam associated with and moving in unison with draw bar mechanism one or more reciprocating shafts or spindles, arms connected with said shaft or shafts and cam trucks carried by said arms and bearing on the several cams from which movement is imparted to the stitch producing mechanism, the longitudinal displacement of the selector shafts functioning to shog the cam trucks from the ordinary stitch cams to the locking stitch cams and vice versa.

17. A straight bar knitting machine accord ing to claim 8 including two rotary cams appertaining to a catch bar for sinker control, one operating during the production of ordinary stitches and the other during the production of I locked or tied stitches, two cams for controlling the vertical needle motions one functioning when making ordinary stitches. and the other when making locked stitches, two cams controlling the in and out or pressing motions of the needles one functioning when making ordinary'stitches and the other when making locked stitches, two cams for controlling the holding down bar one imparting movement to said bar when producing locked stitches: and the second functioning to maintain saidbar inoperative when producing ordinary stitches and means for selectively bringing into operation the several ordinary stitch cams and the several locked stitch cams at predetermined intervals, e. g., at alternate courses.

18. A straight bar knitting machine according to claim 8, including two rotary cams appertaining to a catch barfor sinker control, one

- operating during the production of ordinary ing locked stitches and the second functioningto I maintain said bar inoperative when producing ordinary stitches and means for selectively bringing into operation the several ordinary stitch cams and the-severallocked stitch cams at predetermined intervals, e. g., at alternate courses, in which machine predetermined of the locked stitch cams are provided with regularly adjustable noses or bits for adjusting the size of the locking stitch loops.

19. A straight bar knitting machine according to claim 8 including two rotary cams appertaming to a catch bar for sinker control, one operating during the production of ordinary stitches and the other during the production of locked or tied stitches, two cams for controlling the vertical needle motions one functioning when making ordinary stitches and the other when making locked stitches, two cams controlling the in and out or pressing motions of the needles one functioning when making ordinary stitches and the other when making locked stitches, two cams for controlling the holding down bar one imparting movement to said bar when producing locked stitches and the second functioning to maintain said bar inoperative when producing ordinary stitches and means for selectively bringing into operation the several ordinary stitch cams and the several locked stitch cams her out of operation during .a straight bar knitting stitch loops, and the courses, combined with means for varying at will the size or quality of the stitches, and means for automatically controlling said variation during the operation of the machine.

20. A straight bar knitting machine employing bearded needlesv each having its beard turned back to form a comparatively small subsidiary hook, thread feeding means, cams for controlling mechanism operating to produce plain or ordinary stitches on the needles, differently designed cams for controlling mechanism operating to produce locked or tied stitches, a displaceable fabric holding down bar, cam means for controlling the operation of said bar during the production of locked stitches, means for holding said the production of ordinary stitch loops, selector mechanism functioning to bring into operation the ordinary stitch forming cams at predetermined times and to bring into operation the locking stitch forming cams at other predetermined times, and means operating automatically at predetermined intervals-to render inoperative the ordinary stitch and locking stitch producing mechanism and simultaneously to bring into operation fashioning or stitch transferring mechanism.

21. A straight bar knitting machine according to claim 20 and including a releasable looking catch device controlled from a rotary or travelling pattern drum or member and functioning to render operative and inoperative the cam selector mechanism so as to permit of the production of fabric embodying locked or tied stitches or fabric devoid of said stitches.

22. A machine according to claim 20 and including means whereby, at the termination of each course of stitch locking loops, the traverse of the thread forming said loops is extended over one or more additional. needles beyond the normal selvedge needle so as to produce on said additional needle or needles a selvedge wale or wales.

23. A process of producing knitted fabric on machine employing bearded needles having the tails of the beards turned back to form small subsidiary hooks, said process consisting in making on successive courses normal knitted stitch loops and stitch locking loops for locking or tying said normal locking or tying of the stitch loops being effected by the following sequential operations, namely:--clearing the stitch loop to be locked below the needle beard, feeding 2,142,754 stitch locking thread to th needles above said stitch loop, sinking a loop of said locking thread on the needle, carrying the locking thread loop and stitch loop up into the needle beard, entering a bar member between the locking loop and stitch loop to maintain same separate, pressing the needle beard, entering the stitch loop into the subsidiary hook on the beard, clearing the locking loop'below the beard while the stitch loop is anchored in the subsidiary hook, operating the aforesaid loop spacing bar so as to hold down the previously formed fabric, again pressing the needle beard and passing the locking loop through the stitch loop and on to the exterior of the beard and finally casting off the locking loop over and around the stitch loop which is still retained on the needle.

24. A straight bar knitting machine equipped with bearded needles each having its beard turned back to form a comparatively small subsidiary hook, thread-feeding means, means for producing ordinary stitches and locking stitches on the said needles, a displaceable fabric-holdingdown bar, means for controlling the operation of said bar during the production of locking stitches, means for holding said bar out of operation during the production of ordinary stitches, fashioning or stitch transferring mechanism, means operating automatically at predetermined times to render inoperative the means for producing ordinary and locking stitches and to bring into operation said fashioning or stitch transferring mechanism, and means whereby, at the termination of each course of locking loops, the traverse of the thread forming said loops is extended over at least one additional needle beyond the normal selvedge needle so as to produce on said additional needle or needles a selvedge wale or wales, which said means includes a rack device for imparting a-short shogging motion in opposite directions to thread carrier traversing means, clawker mechanism co-operating with said rack device, a rotary cam device functioning to operate said rack device through said clawker mechanism to impart the requisite shogging motion to the thread carrier at the required times, blufllng means for the clawker mechanism and a further rotary cam device for controlling said blufllng means and for rendering operative and inoperative the rack device.

THOMAS HENRY JONES.

ROBERT KIRKLAND MILLS. 

